Books & Literature

Book Review: The Complete Peanuts 1950 – 2000: Volume 26, by Charles M Schulz and Jean Schulz

Never-before-seen artwork combines with 6 complete books, 7 comic book stories, many single panel drawings and an assortment of comics strips and other items.

I am one of those people who grew up reading the newspaper and heading straight for the comic strips, particularly Peanuts. I identified with the characters and looked forward to the next adventure that would unfold. I sit writing this review wearing a T shirt featuring Snoopy asleep on a TARDIS doghouse with Woodhouse flying above him and am being wowed by this volume of comic strips, images, comic books and commentaries.

This book is divided into sections or chapters, having a short description of the content on the title pages where appropriate. Included are six complete books, seven comic book stories, many single panel drawings and an assortment of comics strips and other items. All art work has been drawn by Charles M Schulz and most have not been published before, as explained in the introductory piece telling of the selection and inclusion criteria. The final 23 pages are an informative and sometimes touching afterword by Jean Schulz, providing a fitting conclusion to a trip through the world of Peanuts and the creative genius of Charles M Schulz.

The printing choice of background coloured pages to mark the changing sections, sometimes makes reading the small print a little challenging. The designer’s note gives an insight into the respect and passion the makers of this book had towards showing the work of a man known as Sparky, as a testimonial to his achievement as an artist. This book is available for $29.99 and for any Peanuts/ Snoopy/ Charlie Brown fan is a value-for-money, historical and entertaining volume. For those who have an interest in cartooning it is an inspiration and for anyone looking for something different, a book that gives entertainment when any page is opened and perused, it also is a valuable purchase.

I have spent several hours enjoying this book already and will, I am sure, spend many more flipping through and reliving some favourite stories, like A Christmas Story over and over as the years go on. I am happy to recommend this book for anyone who has a love of comic strip art and in particular the social commentaries of the Peanuts Gang.

Reviewed by Leanne Caune

Rating out of 10:  10

Released by: Allen & Unwin
Release Date: December 2016
RRP: $29.99 hardcover

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